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Season Preview: For boys’ basketball team, the focus is on now

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Senior captain Cole LeVangie is a one of two returning Patriot League All-Stars for W-H. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Bob Rodgers’ bunch is aiming for its sixth Patriot League Keenan Division crown in the past eight seasons.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ basketball team experienced that first-hand last season when it was deprived of a chance to finish off what it started in the Div. 2 state title game. 

So the mantra for this season is simple: 

“The biggest thing is to make sure we all appreciate every day we have,” said 21st-year W-H head coach Bob Rodgers. “We try to practice every day like it’s going to be our last practice and we have to hopefully play every game like it could be our last game – just appreciate what we have while we have it.”

That’s pretty easy to do when you have two guys like senior captains Nate Amado (13.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg last season) and Cole LeVangie (11.4 ppg, 5 rpg last season). Both are returning Patriot League All-Stars and two of the “most talented” players Rodgers said he has ever coached. But that’s just part of what makes them special. 

“They are just such tremendous teammates and phenomenal leaders and just good people,” Rodgers said. “I’m excited we get to play the season in part because all of these younger players get to play with them and they get to see how they go about their business and how unselfish they are. Obviously, their talent is off the charts, but what I will remember years from now is just how both of them are willing to do whatever it takes for our team to be successful and to help other kids grow.”

As for departures, reigning Patriot League MVP Stevie Kelly (14 ppg, 6.3 apg and 5.1 rpg last season) is gone from the point and Rodgers knows it will be a joint effort to make up for his contributions. 

“No, we don’t have Stevie Kelly,” Rodgers said. “But we have a trio of (junior) guards that have really stepped in nicely. Ryan Vallancourt is just so dedicated and has so much passion for the game of basketball. Amari Jamison’s potential is off the charts. His skill level and athleticism are something I haven’t really had in a long time. And Andrew Guardia is a steady Eddie — runs the position and gets people involved.”

And as always the defending Div. 2 state champions will rely on their ability to knock down the 3-ball.

“We have a lot of guys that can shoot it,” Rodgers said. “That’s one of the blessings like when you have two players like Nate and Cole, you don’t get worried that the other team is just going to try and just shut down those guys, but if the coach has that as their game plan, I think they’re going to have some difficulties because we do have some other guys that can shoot it.”

And why make playing W-H more difficult than it already is? Rodgers’ club is riding the state’s longest winning streak at 26 games, as it takes aim at its sixth Patriot League Keenan Division title in the past eight seasons. 

“A league championship is always where we start and since there isn’t a state championship on the line this year, I think that’s even more so this year,” Rodgers said. “One of the things I always say to the kids is you look at that banner with all of the league championships on it. Each one of those years represents a group of kids that came committed to a goal, came committed to a certain level of work ethic, and a team attitude. If you want to be on that you’ll have to replicate that same kind of effort.”

The Panthers are scheduled to be back on the court Friday, Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m. when they host Plymouth North.

“I think that most of the teams in our league get up to play us for a lot of reasons,” Rodgers said. “We’re one of the games that they circle on the schedule and after having the season that we had last year, I think that will be even more so. I’m sure every team would like to be the team that stops our winning streak.”

Future Nittany Lion: Borgen bound for Penn State

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Olivia Borgen is Penn State-bound. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Whitman-Hanson Regional High junior Olivia Borgen will take her talents to Penn State University.

Her decision is in. 

Whitman-Hanson Regional High junior Olivia Borgen has committed to play soccer at Division 1 Penn State University. 

“Penn State has a very competitive soccer program and I definitely want to be challenged and improve my soccer game and I feel that Penn State will help me get to the next level,” said the Hanson native. “They are a very big sports school and I love that about Penn State.” 

An All-New England first-team selection this fall, Borgen also considered Boston College and Clemson. Ironically enough, Penn State is the only one of those schools she never visited. But, she didn’t need to. 

“My cousin, Lindsay, went there and she absolutely loved the school,” Borgen said. “I was at the 2015 [D1 NCAA women’s soccer] championship game in North Carolina, when they won and because it was in North Carolina, almost everyone was cheering for Duke, but I was definitely cheering for Penn State.”

Borgen said the first time Penn State saw her on the pitch was this past February at the Penn Fusion Showcase in Pennsylvania. She followed up with an email and asked them to watch her in game action.

“I’m glad I did because apparently, they liked what they saw,” Borgen said. 

How could you not? The Patriot League All-Star has netted 39 goals and dished out 25 assists over her first three seasons at W-H. She credited her high school head coach David Floeck for helping her become a goal scorer.

“When I came in as a freshman, I would always look to pass first, which in some cases is definitely the right move, but he always encouraged me to shoot when the opportunity was there and it really helped grow as an attacking-minded player,” said the speedy Borgen, who holds the W-H girls’ outdoor track 100-meter dash school record of 12.44. “That definitely helped my game.”

But despite her success so far, Borgen knows she has work to do as she gears up for her collegiate career. 

“I’m planning on getting stronger mentally and physically before I head to Happy Valley,” Borgen said,  “So, a lot of strength and conditioning and mental training to try and bring my game to the next level.”

Season Preview: Leadership is the key to momentum for boys’ hockey

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The senior captains. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Rob Peters enters his first year behind the bench of the boys’ hockey team.

Following its best season in at least 15 years, the momentum is strong for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ hockey team. 

Now it’s first-year head coach Rob Peters’ job to keep it going. 

“Really good group of guys, good leadership by our seniors, everything has been good so far,” said Peters, who takes over for Chris Googins, after he stepped down to spend time with his family.

W-H was hit hard by graduation, losing Patriot League All-Stars Adam Solari (23 goals, 11 assists last season) and Chris Stoddard (nine goals, 28 assists last season). But the cupboard isn’t completely bare, as they do return sophomore standout Matt Solari (18 goals and 14 assists last season). Junior John Ward and freshman Luke Tropiano will join him on the first line. 

“We lost a lot of points up front,” Peters explained. “But Matt has gotten even bigger, stronger, he’s gonna be a great power forward for us. That top line is really jelling right now really well. I think they’re gonna be a really tough line to play against. They’re tough. They work hard.”

Peters said the first line and defense will power his club. Senior captains Jack Allen and Kevin Willis are back on the blue line, while fellow senior captain Bobby Siders, a league all-star last season, returns for his third year in net. 

“We’re gonna rely a lot on our backend,” Peters said. “Those guys have really stepped up nicely.” 

Junior goaltender Erik Dean and senior defenseman Josh Pike are also key returnees on the backend. Additionally, W-H had 11 freshmen try out for the team. 

“I’m just really excited where this club is right now,” Peters said. “They’re all jelling, coming together and they’re just a really good group of guys and I love coming to the rink every day.”

Season Review: Girls’ soccer team made mark in short season

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Junior Olivia Borgen was an All-New England first-teamer. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Panthers finished the shortened season 9-2-2.

In a fall season like we’ve never experienced before, perhaps the strangest difference at Whitman-Hanson Regional High was to not see the girls’ soccer team gearing up for the state tournament, for the first time in 21 years.

That’s because there wasn’t one to prepare for. 

The Panthers still got what they could out of this COVID-shortened season, playing a stout Patriot League Keenan Division-heavy schedule.

“There wasn’t one game that you could look at and say that we have a great chance to win this game,” said 25th-year W-H head coach David Floeck. “Every game could go either way and I think that was great for our girls to get that experience.”

Floeck’s club finished the season 9-2-2, falling to Hingham in the semifinals of the Patriot Cup, 3-2, in a shootout.

“We had opportunities to win that game and so did they,” Floeck said. “I think we played very well in that match. We could have advanced. We had an opportunity to win the game with 15 seconds to go and their goalie made the save. We performed well and were happy with how the team played.”

Junior midfielder Olivia Borgen made it click for W-H on the offensive end. The Penn State-bound, All-New England first-teamer, scored nine goals and piled up eight assists.

“What Olivia found now was she wasn’t surprising anybody like last year, maybe she caught some teams by surprise with her offensive output,” Floeck explained. “Now teams were game-planning specifically to stop her, so one of the areas she grew in this year is how to handle when coaches are game-planning how to stop her.”

On the back end, junior defender Ava Melia garnered first-team EMass honors.

“Ava was phenomenal,” Floeck said. “She’s always been a top-notch player and one of the hardest working players whether it’s practice or games, and what Ava really did this year is become a true leader. We graduated our whole defensive lineup, besides Ava and she took over as the leader of that group. With a lot of our backline being new, she turned them into a formable backline and that’s what allowed us to make a run because they played so well and she gets a lot of credit for that.”

Behind Melia was the goaltending tandem of senior captains Reese Codero (Patriot League All-Star) and Kylee Colclough (committed to play at Stonehill College).  

“We were fortunate to have two of the best goalies in the league on our team,” Floeck said. “They were the biggest supporters of each other. They celebrated each others’ successes, helped pick them up if something didn’t go well. We were very fortunate to have those two ladies in net for us.”

Senior captain and league all-star Alexis Billings played a key role in coordinating the Panthers’ offensive attack.

“She is one of those kids that isn’t always flashy, although she came up with some huge goals for us this season, but she is just the one who does all the dirty work in the midfield,” Floeck said. “She is someone you can just count on you know is just someone you count on. You just know you’re going to get a great effort and hard-fought game from Alexis.”

Senior captain and midfielder Abby Carew, senior striker Ana Sullivan, junior backs Megan Bizier, Skylar Jordan and Emily Leitch, sophomore midfielder Kayla Cassidy and freshman back Makenna Marshall also stepped up for the Panthers this season.

CALLING IT CAREERS

In addition to graduating seven seniors, W-H will also have to make up for the losses of longtime assistants Glenn Ward (23 years) and Tom Zamagni (26 years), both of whom are hanging up the whistles after a combined 49 years on the W-H sideline.

“So many things go on in our discussions and game planning together that have been instrumental, but the scouting the player development that they were both involved in, it’s hard to put into words what both of them have contributed to the program,” Floeck said. “Both are returning for family and that’s why they got into coaching. They treat it like it’s their family.”

W-H sports on pause

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Sports at Whitman-Hanson Regional High are on pause until at least January 19.

Following the district’s decision to go full remote until January 19, the Whitman-Hanson Regional High athletic calendar will also be paused until then.

“Teams will continue to be engaged via zoom and other distanced activities,” tweeted athletic director Bob Rodgers. “Please wear your masks and stay safe during this time.”

“No one should be angry with anyone over the move to remote,” Rodgers added. “In our league, Marshfield, Plymouth North and Scituate are also in the same position and others are likely to follow. In addition, there are many other teams that are out because of quarantine.”

Both the boys’ and girls’ hockey teams as well as the boys’ basketball team had already opened their seasons. The girls’ basketball team still hasn’t played a game.

Season Preview: Girls’ basketball shooting for league title

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Senior captain Reese Codero, a returning Patriot League All-Star, goes in for a layup during a scrimmage vs Pembroke. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The girls’ hoop team is shooting to win the program’s first league title since 2010.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ basketball team’s mission is clear.

“The priority is to win the league title in the regular season and then the first ever Patriot Cup — be able to compete for that as well,” said second-year head coach Mike Costa. 

And they know what it’s going to take to accomplish that goal.

“We have to win some games against some of the tougher teams in the league,” Costa said. “Last year, we let two slip away against Plymouth North, we were able to steal one against Hingham, but we just have to compete and win those games against the upper-echelon teams.”

Last year, the Panthers posted a 9-5 mark in Patriot League play, and finished the season with a 15-7 record, highlighted by the program’s first tournament win in eight years.

“I hope the success we had last year kind of gives them the confidence knowing they can compete with anyone they step on the floor with,” Costa said. “We had a pretty young group last year, so hopefully they can build off that and just walk with that swagger we want them to — knowing they can play with anybody.”

W-H returns plenty of talent from last winter’s squad, headlined by senior captains Reese Codero and Rylie Harlow, as well as junior Abby Martin.

A Patriot League All-Star last season as the Panthers’ starting point guard, Codero averaged 7.1 ppg and dished out a team-high 3.2 apg. Harlow (5.1 ppg last season) and Martin (4.5 ppg last season) also chipped in offensively. 

“Outside of Reese, Rylie and Abby Martin, our other two starting spots are kind of up in the air right now,” Costa said.

The graduations of 2020-21 Patriot League All-Stars Britany Gacicia and Olivia Martin no doubt leave voids in the lineup. Gacicia led the team in points (11.9), rebounds (7.1), steals (2.5) and blocks, while Martin scored 9.5 ppg and knocked down a team-high 40 attempts from beyond the arc. Costa said it will likely take a team effort to make up for their departures.

“I think this is a year for Lauren Dunn to hopefully step up and provide some of her shooting we’re gonna miss with getting rid of Liv,” Costa said. “Anna Stone was kind of under the radar last year, but she’s worked her butt off and I think she could provide some toughness and rebounding that we lose with Brittany.”

Costa said W-H will lean on its defense and shot-making this season.

“We feel like if we can hold teams to 40, we should be able to score more than 40 points a game,” he said. “And hopefully we can score the ball a little more. I feel like shooting is going to be a strength of ours.”

The Panthers have already had their first three games postponed due to COVID-19 precautions, and Costa said it’s important to just roll with the punches.

“There’s just so much unknown this season, we’re literally just playing one game as its own thing,” he said. “If something changes where we miss a game, it sucks, but we gotta refocus and onto the next one. That has to be our mentality as we move through this thing.”

W-H is now scheduled to open its season Wednesday, Jan. 20 at home against Silver Lake at 5:15 p.m.

“Even though the game might look a little bit different and the season might look a little bit different, the goal is still the same,” Costa said. “We’re still trying to compete for a league championship and prepare our seniors, Reese and Rylie, for college next year. We’re trying to get the most out of them and squeeze the sponge for them and at the same time continuing to build toward a league title. 

“The league is wide open. But nothing is going to be given to us, everything is earned and we’re just going to take it one game at a time.”

Season Preview: For girls’ puck, confidence is key

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Senior captain Emily McDonald, of Whitman, skates in the Panthers’ season opener against Quincy/North Quincy. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The girls’ hockey team is hoping to keep the momentum going from last season.

For the Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake girls’ high school hockey team, it all starts with confidence — just look at last season.

After opening the year 0-4, WSHL won 11 of its last 16 games to earn its first tournament berth in three years. Head coach Kevin Marani hopes that success carries into this season.

“It’s just hard work and believing in yourself,” said Marani, who enters his sixth year on the co-op’s bench. “They just needed to believe they could win and it’s contagious. They truly believe they’re a good team.”

The Panthers return two-thirds of their top line in senior captain Emily McDonald (Whitman) and sophomore Shea Kelleher (Kingston). 

McDonald, who enters her second year as captain, potted nine goals last season. 

“She is just a great kid to coach, great leader and has great talent,” Marani said of McDonald. “Her leadership and what she brings to the defensive side of the ice, as well as her offensive skill — she is one of our best players. If I had 15 of her, we’d be state champs, for sure.”

Kelleher found the back of the net 13 times and dished out 14 assists in her freshman campaign.

“Shea Kelleher is probably our best all-around player,” Marani said. “She is just good at everything. She is great offensively, she is fast, she has great hands and she has a really good shot.”

Alyssa Murphy also has a really good shot — one the Panthers wish they still had following her graduation. Murphy scored a team-high 31 goals last season.

“I’ve pretty much challenged every girl, if every girl can get three more goals we can at least make up for what we lost from Murph,” Marani said. 

Junior Lily Ulvila (Kingston) will replace Murphy on the top line. 

As for the other end of the ice, senior captain Caleigh Tompkins (Kingston), sophomore Kira Peterson (Kingston) and seniors Neve Corkery (Kingston) and Molly Duff (Kingston) are all back in the fold. Marani said he believes incoming freshmen Jocelyn Moore (Kingston) and Caitlin Dilley (Kingston) can play regularly, as well. 

“We have six really good defensemen,”Marani said. “I expect really big things from her and our defense.”

Marani also expects really big things from senior Kat Gilbert (Halifax), who is back for her third season in net. 

“She’s put in the work,” Marani said. “She is totally focused and when she’s totally focused, she’s one of the better goalies in the league.”

WHSL is scheduled to be back in action Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. against East Bridgewater at Rockland Ice Rink.

“I just want to see their confidence, they’re good,” Marani said. “I just believe that if they believe and they have the same focus as they did at the end of last year we’re gonna be fine and we’ll win our fair share of games and we’ll be a tough out come Patriot League playoffs. All the hard work they put in will come to fruition right now.”

Season Review: Girls’ volleyball rises up

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The Panthers in action. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The girls’ volleyball team did its best during a COVID-safe campaign.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ volleyball team showed plenty of fight this fall.

After winning just two matches during the regular season, the Panthers dominated Pembroke in the first round of the Patriot Cup, sweeping the Titans 3-0 to keep their season alive. 

“The high point of the season was winning against Pembroke,” said second-year W-H head coach Samantha Richner. “The team was so excited to not only win, but to continue playing.”

W-H’s run came to an end in the next round at the hands of Plymouth North, as they finished the season with a 3-10 record. 

“I am extremely proud of this team, not only for how they competed, but for how well they adjusted to all of the new rules and regulations due to COVID-19,” Richner said.

The toughest change?

“I think having to wear a mask while playing was the most challenging for them, but no one ever complained,” Richner explained. “They just wanted to play and were thankful to be able to this year.”

Senior captain Sophia Berardinelli was tabbed a league all-star, after leading the team with 162 assists, 142 digs and 30 aces. 

“[She] was one of the most well-rounded players on the court,” Richner said. “Sophia stepped up this season as captain but also as one of the few players who played in every single set this season.”

Junior captain Lily Welch was that other player. She paced the Panthers with 73 kills and 29 blocks, while her 84 digs ranked second. The versatile Welch spent time in both the front and back row. 

“Lily was the youngest of the three captains, but you would never know it,” Richner said. “She played in every single set as well and played all the way around the court which was huge for our team; we needed her out there.”

And with Welch back next season, along with juniors Anna Stone, Megan Stone, captain-elect Abby Martin and freshman Riley Codero, the Panthers’ future could be bright.

Season Review: Field hockey rolls with the new rulebook

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Head coach Todd Humphrey instructs his team. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The W-H field hockey team rolled with a new rulebook this fall.

For the Whitman-Hanson Regional High field hockey team, it was a unique season in every sense of the word. 

“Going from 11-on-11 to 7-on-7 and taking away penalty corners were massive changes,” said seventh-year head coach Todd Humphrey. “I would say that most of my players were skeptical of the rule changes at first, but they soon learned to embrace them, especially the 7-on-7 dynamic.”

Specifically the open space on the field. 

“It allowed them to showcase speed and passing,” Humphrey explained. “We would practice our skills during the week and on Saturdays we would take time to develop our conditioning. Determining proper coverage and defensive responsibility was difficult too. Especially, since the offenses in the Patriot League tend to be strong.”

W-H finished the season 2-9-1, highlighted by a 1-0 victory over Marshfield in the first round of the Patriot Cup. 

“The game was a culmination of our efforts preparing for the playoffs as a team throughout the regular season,” Humphrey said. “Since every team in the Patriot League was going to compete for the Patriot Cup, I felt like the regular season was a preseason. The regular season allowed us to try different formations and strategies with our players. It took us a while to find the style of play that worked best for us.”

Junior forward Olivia Phelps had the winning goal. She found the back of the net a team-high six times and dished out three assists en route to being named a Patriot League All-Star. 

“Olivia Phelps was a force to be reckoned with this season,” Humphrey said. “She really started to shine during our home game against Duxbury, and for the rest of the season, she was relentless in moving the ball down the field and attacking the opposition’s defense. She also showed her strength as a two-way player by supporting the defense.”

Fellow junior forward Lauren Dunn (four goals, two assists) and senior forward Lauren Clark (two goals, four assists) also contributed on offense this season. 

“They are amazing players,” Humphrey said. “They worked exceptionally well together, especially when they moved the ball down the field. They are all unselfish players which made them great passers. They did a great job creating offensive opportunities against very formidable defenses.”

Paige Cosgrove also made her presence felt, according to Humphrey. She was the only freshman on varsity and Humphrey said she is excited to see her develop. 

“She came to tryouts with a lot of great field hockey skills,” said her coach. “Paige currently plays forward and will be one player to watch in the upcoming years. She will need a supporting cast of players.”

So, what’s the future of W-H field hockey?

“Our field hockey program will continue to have camps and clinics in the summer to introduce middle school girls to our sport and hope that our numbers continue to grow,” Humphrey said. “We encourage girls in the Whitman-Hanson community to try our sport. Some of our girls have been playing on club teams during the off season and that is making them better players. Others have been attending field hockey camps during the summer to improve their skills.”

W-H alum MacDonald named new East Bridgewater boys’ basketball coach

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Andrew MacDonald with his former HS coach Bob Rodgers. / Courtesy photo

W-H alum Andrew MacDonald has been named the boys’ basketball coach at East Bridgewater High.

Whitman-Hanson Regional High alum Andrew MacDonald is on to a new challenge. 

After four tournament appearances in four seasons at the helm of the East Bridgewater girls’ basketball team, while also guiding the program to its first-ever South Shore League title in 2018, MacDonald has now taken the reins of the EB boys’ basketball team. 

“I’m beyond excited to be the boys’ coach now,” said MacDonald, who racked up a 52-25 record as the girls’ head coach. “I had a great experience coaching the girls and always had such a great group of players, but one of my personal goals was also to be a boys’ varsity coach and am very fortunate to have this opportunity.”

At W-H, MacDonald, who graduated in 2007, was a two-year varsity starter under Bob Rodgers — and he made an impact. MacDonald connected on 212 3-pointers, was a two-time Atlantic Coast League All-Star and is the school’s second all-time leading scorer (992 career points). But his time as a Panther was about more than the accolades. 

“Playing for Whitman-Hanson taught me what commitment really means and what working hard for what I wanted to accomplish really looks like,” MacDonald explained. “The core values I took from playing in that program definitely helped shape me into who I am today and helped me realize I always wanted to be around the game I loved anyway I could.”

MacDonald, who is also an assistant baseball coach at W-H, said he’ll aim to instill those values he picked up from Rodgers in his new position — just as he did in his previous one.

“Developing a positive culture and finding ways to get his players 100 percent bought into the program was always a key focus for coach Rodgers and is something I’ve been trying here at EB as well,” MacDonald said. “Whitman-Hanson has always had teams that score the ball very well so I have also used some of the offensive concepts that he has been teaching for a while now too.”